So, March happened. Unfortunately, not a whole lot comics-wise happened in March which makes this intro a little awkward.
Perhaps the biggest event of March was that I saw Captain America: The Winter Soldier and, spoiler alert, it was pretty good, you guys. Other things that happened comic book movie related was that we saw a couple of trailers released for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sin City: A Dame To Kill For which both look unarguably mediocre to me. Oh, yeah, and we finally saw the costume for CW’s The Flash and NBC’s Constantine which was… a thing.
While all that happened, all we really got in comics announcments was that PEter David and Will Sliney are bringing us a “Spider-Man 2099” series and Dan Slott and Olivier Coipel are bringing us “Spider-Verse”. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Big Two pond, Dan Didio and Keith Giffen will be bringing us “Infinity Man And The Forever People” and Jeff Lemire and Terry Dodson will be teaming up for “Earth One: Teen Titans”.
Okay, so maybe more stuff happened than I originally thought. This was educational for all of us. Now, on to the Best Ofs for March!
Best Issue: “The Sandman: Overture” #2
It was just… it was so good. Everything, from Neil Gaiman exploring areas of “Sandman” lore that I didn’t even know could be explored to J.H. Williams III continuing to kill it with unbelievable page layouts, was perfect. This was a month-defining issue.
Runner Up: “Captain Marvel” #1 because I’m nothing if not predictable.
Best Writer: Ales Kot
Ha HA! You thought I was going to say Neil Gaiman, right? Well, you’d be wrong! Because between the unparalleled “ZERO” #6 to the amazingly quirky “Secret Avengers” #1 to the just fucking fantastic “Iron Patriot” #1, this was a great month for Ales Kot. He continues to show that he is just taking comics by storm.
Runner Up: Neil Gaiman
Best Artist: J.H. Williams III
Do I even need to explain this one? Because Williams just annihilated everyone else with this issue.
Runner Up: Declan Shalvey
Best Cover: Magneto #1
“Magneto” #1 is an issue that I really enjoyed, but I still can’t really put together why I enjoyed it as much. Regardless, this is a really great cover by Paolo Rivera and really simply puts a pin in Magneto’s entire history while being a really evocative image. This is a great cover.
Runner Up: “She-Hulk” #2
Most Tear-Filled Farewell: “Animal Man” #29
I’m still upset over this issue.
Runner Up: “Avengers Assemble” #25
Best All-New Marvel NOW! #1
Boy, there were a lot of great #1s from Marvel this month. Hell, two of them were written by Ales Kot. But the one that really stood out to me was Felipe Smith and Tradd Moore’s “All-New Ghost Rider” #1. Not only did it completely reinvent a character I love in a way I love while being solidly written with a great introduction to the characters and themes of the story with amazingly fluid and fast art, but… it was just really good.
Runner Up: “Captain Marvel” #1
